Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, the former governor of Anambra State has been declared dead. He was said to have died at the National Hospital in Abuja on Tuesday, at the age of 78.
A press statement by his son, Barr Cheta Mbadinuju, which was signed on behalf of the family revealed that Chinwoke, who was governor of Anambra State between 1999 and 2003, died after a brief illness.
The statement reads “With heavy hearts but utmost gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our father, grandfather, uncle, friend, and associate, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State and elder statesman,†he said in the statement.
“At this trying time, we pray for God’s grace and mercy upon him and those left behind to mourn him,†he added.
He said the family would announce his funeral arrangements in due course.
The ex-governor sought re-election as governor under the PDP platform but was denied the party’s ticket under controversial circumstances amidst an internal crisis within the party at the time.
Although, Chris Ngige later clinch the governorship ticket of the party ahead of the 19 April 2003 governorship election in the state.
Chinwoke after losing the PDP’s ticket, he defected to the now-defunct Alliance for Democracy, where he later emerged as the party’s governorship candidate, but lost in the general election.
Mr. Chinwoke had served as a personal assistant to a former governor of old Enugu State, Jim Nwobodo, between 1979 and 1980, before playing the same role for former Nigeria’s Head of State, Shehu Shagari, between 1980 and 1983.